Quick separation slide fastener and slider stop for the same



J. M. SINCLAIR QUICK SEPARATION SLIDE FA STENER AND SLIDE-R STOP FOR THE SAME March 3, 1959 Filed March 14, 195

INVENIOR John N. Jmc/a/x W,%MM

I ATTO EIYS United States Patent QUICK SEPARATION SLIDE FASTENERAND SLIDER STOP FOR THE SAME John M. Sinclair, Warren, R. L, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Coats & Clark Inc.,.Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application March 14, 1952, Serial No. 276,492 H 6 Claims. c1. 24405.11

This invention relates to slide fasteners of the kind providing for a quick separation of the fastener stringers and to an improved stop for the slider of such fasteners.

Moreparticularly, the invention provides a fastener in which the slider can be quickly removed from one stringer, which in turn enables the latter stringer to be quickly separated-from the other by a lateral pull. ,In

normal use, the stop acts to check the normal movement of the slider thereover, but when the slider is drawn with more than normal force against the stop, the slider can be moved past the stop, thus enabling the stringers to be separated.

According to the invention, a' fastener stringer is provided with a stop in the form of an elongated member enclosed within the edge of the stringer at a portion thereof on which scoops are mounted, the member extending longitudinally within the stringer edge over a distance occupied by at least several scoops and being concaled from view throughout its length. As a result, that portion of the stringer edge containing the member is stiffened so as to prevent the scoops adjacent the member from meshing with corresponding scoops of a com panion stringer during normal coupling movement of the slider. However, the elongated member is sufiiciently flexible to permit the scoops to mesh on more forcible movement of the slider, the slider being movable past the member, during such movement.

Fasteners of the kind under consideration are desirable.

in a number of instances where a quick separation of the stringers is wanted, as in jackets, sleeping bags, coat linings, etc. Such stringers are usually provided with separable couplings, such as the pin and box type, at one end of the same to enable one stringer to be completely separated from the other. The invention, however, is not limited to fasteners having separable type couplings.

Among the objects of the invention is the provision of a fastener of the quick separation type in which the stop is not only simple and inexpensive but is concealed from Fig; 3 is a broken off enlarged view, partly in section,

illustrating the function of the stop for checking normal movement of the slider;

Fig. 4 is a view like Fig. 3 illustrating the slider in an intermediate position as it is being drawn past the stop; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings in detail, there is shown a pair of stringers 8, 9 comprising, respectively, tapes 10,

2,875,490 Patented Mar. 3, 1 959 a a 2 11 having beaded edges 12, 13 on which scoops 14 are mounted in spaced relation. A conventional flanged slider 15 having a pull 16 is mounted on the stringers for coupling and uncoupling the same. The invention does not require any particular form of slider or scoops. Stringer 8 at the upper end portion has a group 17 of scoops which extends beyond the end scoop 18 of the companion stringer. An end stop 19 is mounted on the endscoops of stringer 8 of the kind described and illustrated in U. S. Patent No. 2,506,965 to Morin. This end stop prevents the slider from passing off the stringer 8. On stringer 9 at a point 20 opposite the group 17 of scoops, a portion of the bead, beginning at a point adjacent the end scoop 18, may be removed to facilitate the withdrawal of this stringer laterally through the slider. Such removal of a portion of the head is not necessary where the stringer is originally provided with a head which passes laterally through the slider.

At 21 is shown an elongated pin embedded in the-tape bead of stringer 9. The pin extends longitudinally within the bead over a distance occupiedbyseveral scoops and serves to stiffen the'bead at that point. The pin should be long enough to function as a normal slider stop and to be sufiiciently bendable when the slide is forcibly drawn past it. It may have any suitable cross-sectional shape, round being preferred. Any suitable material may be used for the. pin which will enable it to remain stiff during normal operation of the slider and to bend during forcible movement of .the slider past it; As an example, the pin maybe made ofmusic wire. Preferably, it should have a point 22 to facilitate entry into and passage through the bead, and it may or may not be provided with a head. In this connection, the removal ofthe bead at the portion 20 facilitates the entry of the pin into the head at 23. The pin may be inserted in the bead in any way, conveniently bythe use of a suitable machine, and preferably the upper end of the pin should be disposed a little below the bead end 23. The bead, of course, expands sufficiently to receive the pin.

The action or operation of the stop is as follows. As will be understood, in aconventional fastener as the slider is moved along the stringers to couple them to gether, or, so to speak, as the stringers pass downwardlyin the slider from the double channel end to the single channel end, the coupling end portions of a pair of next adjacent scoops are spread away from each other slightly to permit thecoupling end portion of a scoop on the. opposed stringer to mesh with them. This spreading action of a pair ofneighboring scoops is brought about by virtue of the fact that the stringers pass by,a bend intheslider. In Fig. 3, this bend may be indicated as 24. To permit the head to bend and the scoops tobe spread, the head, of course, must be flexible. In

Fig. 3, the head has beenrendered inflexible to such an extent by the presence of the pin that the normal force exerted in movingthe slider to couple the stringers is insufiicient to flex the bead and thus spread adjacent scoops sufliciently to permit meshing. That portion of the bead at or below the lower end of the pin is flexible enough to permit the coupling end portion of scoop 25 to be spread awayfrom the coupling end portion of scoop 26, so that the coupling end portion of scoop 27 on the opposing stringer can mesh with scoops 25 and 26. However, that portion of the bead enclosing the pin resists flexing by the normal action of the slider, and

as a result the coupling end portions of scoops 26 and 28 are not spread sufficiently to permit scoop 290E the opposed stringer to mesh with them. The slider is thus brought to a stop because the combined length of nonmeshed scoops 29, on the one hand, and 26 and 28, on the other hand, is greater than the width of the slider at and adjacent the point 24, and the slider therefore can not be drawn past these non-meshed scoops in the ordinary way. Now if the slider is dr'awn'upwardly in a more forceful manner than usual, the pin, and therefore the bead enclosing it, can be bent suflicientlyto enable. adjacent scoops to be spread apart as usual andto mesh with the appropriate scoop on the opposed stringer, as shown in. Fig. 4. When the scoops are meshed, there is no har to the movement of the slider beyondthe end scoop 18 of the stringer 9. The, slider maybe moved upwardly as shown in Fig. 2 until its progress is stopped by the topstop'19, At this point the lower endof the slider will have cleared the topmost scoop 18 on stringer, 9 and the latter stringer may then be pulled laterally through the slider and easilyseparated from stringers.

If desired, pins such as the pin 211mayalsobefplaced within the bead of stringer 9 at one or more points belo'w the upperend portion of the same. Such a construction gardless ,ofthe form of endstop, top or bottom, which the stringermay have. i

As has been noted, the invention provides a stop of,

ther character described which is concealed from view; and'which thus improves the appearance of fasteners of this kind. A fastener incorporatingthe present stop can be sewn into a, garment without the interference,

causedjby other forms of stops, such. as those of the flange-'and-spring variety where the flange extendsonto. the tape a substantial distance. Also, the present fastener, needonly have abontsix scoops in the group '17 on;

stringer 8, whereas many conventional jfastenerjs of this kind employ a greater number of scoops in this position.

Since thejstop action of the present fastener is due-to the resistance .to meshing of the scoops, the quality of thestopjaction which will be obtained is more uniform than on quick separation fasteners where thc action depends on fri ction between; the slider and a more-or less resilient stop member.

Only onepart is required forthe present stop, and that is the stopritself. The assembly operation consists in inserting the stop in the head, for ,whicha machine of simple design can be used.

As' noted, no particular form of scoop is required.

Those shown are illustrative, without going into detail, of

the scoops in the above-noted Morinpatcnt, or in U. S,

Patent l2,322 ,53fl to Morin, andas appears in .Fig. 5,

these scoops are provided-with an opening 30.,inthe coupling endportion 31 which opening is engaged by.

a suitable projection not shown.-

pa'ir' of strin'gers' having a slider mounted thereon-for. coupling and uncouplingthe same, each stringer compris j ing a' tapehaving a beaded edge with scoops spaced along, said Qedg'e, one stringer having at theupper end portion thereof a group of scoops extending beyond the upper most scoopo'f the other stringer and'also having a stop at said upper end portion for preventing the slider front passing offthe same, the improvement comprising an elongatcd pin embedded in thetape bead ofsaid other stringer. at theupper end portion thereof on which scoops are mounted, said pingextending longitudinally within the bead over a distance occupied by several scoops and being'concealed from view throughout its length, said pin serving to stiffen thebead at said end portion to prevent the scoops of said stringers from ,meshing uponnormal coupling movementof the slider toward} said endf po'rtion, and said pin being sufiiciently flexibleg si of e fo e oin c ipt e. 1 w.

to permit said scoops to mesh at said end portion upon more forcible movement of the slider, whereby said slider may be drawn past said pin to permit said other stringer to be drawn laterally through the slider and to be separated from the first stringer.

2. In a quick separation slide fastener comprising a pair of stringers adapted to be coupled and uncoupled by a slider, each stringer comprising a tape having a beaded edge with scoops spaced along said edge, one stringerhaving a stop at an end portion thereof for preventingthe slider from passing off the same, the improvement comprising an elongated pin enclosed within the tape bead of the other stringer at an end portion thereof on which scoops'are mounted, said --end portion corresponding to the end portion of the first stringer, said pin extending longitudinally within the head over a distance occupied by several scoops and being concealed from view .-throughout its length, said pin serving. to stiffen the bead. at (said: end, portionto prevent the scoopsof saidstrin'gers from meshing upon normal coupling move mentof the slider toward, said end portion, and s'aid pin.

being sufiieientlyvflexible'to permitsaid scoops to mesh at said end portion upon moreforcible movement of the slider, wherebysaid slider maybe drawn past saidpinl tojpermitsaid other stringer to be drawn laterally through,-

the slider and to be separated from thefirst stringer,-

3. Ida quick separation slide fastener comprising aj pair of flexible stringersadapted to be coupled and'un;

coupled by a slider, each stringer having scoops spaced '1 along the longitudinal edge thereof, and a .stop ,onone stringer for preventing the slider from passing oifthe same, the improvement c'omprisingan elongated member. enclosed within the edge of the other stringer at. anend portion thereof on which scoops are mounted, said morn her being normally stifl but flexible upon the application.

thereto of a flexing force, said member extending longition tomesh upon more forciblemovement of the slider,

whereby said slider may be drawn past said memberto permit said other stringer to be drawn laterally through theslider and to be separated from said one stringer.v

4. In a v slide fastener comprising, a pair of flexible stringers adapted to be coupled and uncoupled by a slider,

each stringer, having scoops spaced along the longitudinal edgethereofi and a stop on one stringer for preventing theslider from passing off the. same, the improvement 1 comprising .an. elongated member. enclosed within the; edge of the. other stringer at a portion thereof ou -which scoops. are mounted, said member being .normally stiff but flexible upon the application thereto of a flexing force, said member extending longitudinally Withilitfihfir stringer. edgezoveradistanceoccupied by only a portion of the scoops on said other-stringer and beingconcealed; from view, said membenstiifening the stringer. edge: at

said portion and thereby preventing the scoops of said stringers frorn n1e shing, at said portion upon normal coupling movement of the slider toward said portion wherebysaid normalmovement of the slider is checked,

andsaid member being sufiiciently flexible to permit said scoops at said portion to mesh upon more forcible movementofthe slider, whereby said slider may be drawn past said member.

5. In a quick separation slide fastener stringer whereina flexiblestringer length is adapated to be coupled and uncoupled to an opposed flexible stringer length. byya slider, said stringer lengths having scoops spaced- -along' he l n itu a se h rsafr t e r q mantissmp 5-1.:

ing an elongated stifiening member enclosed within the edge of a stringer length at an end portion thereof on which scoops are mounted, said member being flexible upon the application thereto of a flexing force, said member extending longitudinally within the stringer edge over a distance occupied by only a portion of the scoops on said stringer length and being concealed from view, said member stitfening the stringer edge at said end portion and thereby preventing the scoops of said opposed stringer length from meshing upon normal coupling movement of the slider toward said end portion, whereby said normal movement of the slider is checked, and said member being sutficiently flexible to permit said scoops at said end portion to mesh upon more forcible movement of the slider, whereby said slider may be drawn past said member to permit said one stringer length to be drawn laterally through the slider and to be separated from the opposed stringer length.

6. In a slide fastener stringer wherein a flexible stringer length is adapted to be coupled and uncoupled to another flexible stringer length by a slider, said stringer lengths having scoops spaced along the longitudinal edge thereof, the improvement comprising an elongated stitfening member enclosed within the edge of a stringer length at a portion thereof on which scoops are mounted, said member being flexible upon the application thereto of a flexing force, said member extending longitudinally Within the stringer edge over a distance occupied by only a fraction of the scoops on said stringer length and being concealed from view, said member stiffening the stringer edge at said portion and thereby preventing the scoops of said stringer lengths from meshing upon normal coupling movement of the slider toward said portion, whereby said normal movement of the slider is checked, and said member being sufliciently flexible to permit said scoops at said portion to mesh upon more forcible movement of the slider, whereby said slider may be drawn past said member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,398,592 Morin Apr. 16, 1946 2,441,007 Carlile May 4, 1948 2,474,908 Morin July 5, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 236,465 Great Britain 1925 

